Rachel Maddows MSNBC’s Deal Gives Her a Chance to Build a Media Empire

[ad_1]

NBC Universal executives breathed a sigh of relief after MSNBC star Rachel Maddow was locked into a new contract for several years. The network’s top-rating host is reportedly considering leaving when his contract ends next year, possibly still starting his own media company. But now Maddow can grow his brand under the NBC umbrella, putting his stamp on various projects beyond the night he presented. Maddows ’expanded portfolio includes books and films of his choice, Insider revealed, as the Wall Street Journal reported that he is starting his own production company that will take on potential projects at NBCUniversal first.

Maddow, who rose to prominence in the Obama years and became a daily destination for liberal America to work with Donald Trumps presidency, tapped superagent Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, and the president of talent agencys Mark Shapiro, to represent him in contract negotiations with NBCU following months of reported discussions with other suitors. Netflix, Spotify, WarnerMedia, and Disney are among those fighting for his attention, according to Axios. The outcome was a big win for MSNBC and the parent company of new chairman Cesar Condeas the network, and its cable competitors, to navigate the post-Trump era.

Major outlets are trying to figure out how to keep the interest that comes with the chaotic news cycle on Trump, and for MSNBC, keeping Maddow is important. The 9pm host last month brought in a reported average of 2.3 million total viewers, putting MSNBC just behind Fox News. The previous administration’s coverage also boosted Foxs own top -ranked host Tucker Carlson (who, in the cable’s past life, helped bring Maddow to MSNBC). Amid speculation about Maddows ’next career move, the Daily Beast said MSNBC executives are well aware that the network has no immediate or obvious successor if Maddow chooses to leave.

Maddow appears to be reaping the benefits of the strength he has amassed, due to the nature of his broader deal with NBCUniversal, as Shapiro told Insider. Maddow will continue to host The Rachel Maddow Show on a daily basis for now, but the five-day-a-week show will end next year with Maddow shifting gears to more of a weekly format, CNNs Brian Stelter reports. While plans are still being finalized, the scheduling ability that Shapiro recorded with Insider should allow him to focus on the expanded portfolio NBCU offered him by the new contract. The new role, and the upcoming election in 2024, will once again force the company to think about who can eventually occupy its space in time.

Reports of Maddows ’potential removal from the network didn’t surprise many in the industry, as the host has been smart about the amount of professional burnout in recent years in addition to his nightly show, Maddow has written numerous books and expressed interest in the pursuit of other content, such as podcasts The scope of his new deal with NBCU, in which the company is taking a further step into the video streaming space, is a logical next step for both parties. As the definitions of media, content, distribution and platform all change, the Maddow brand now has more outlets than ever before, Axios notes.

Lots of Great Stories From Vanity Fair

How the US Left Behind Women in AfghanistanBillionaire Leon Black Flew a Russian Model to Meet Jeffrey Epstein Amid Donald Trumps Florida’s Fury and FantasyHow Rudy Giuliani Went From 9 / 11s Decided Mayor to 2021s Haunted Ghoul The DeSantiss Fox News on Breaking News in Florida? Congress Will Soon Get Trump’s Possible Evidence of Multiple Suspected Crimes How the Ground Zero Mosque Meltdown Sets the Table for Trump From the Archive: Into the Valley of Death Not a subscriber? Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive today.

[ad_2]